Fire-escape



(No Model.) K. FREEMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

No. 267,179. Patented Nov, 7, 1882.

N. PETERS. PhaIwMhognph-r. Wahingtm. 0.4:.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

KASSON FREEMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- FOUETH TOHENRY DUB-BIN, OF OAK GREEK, YVISOONSIN.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 267,179, dated November*7, 1882.

Application filed February 16, 1882. (No model.)

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, KASSON FREEMAN, of

Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent andState weights, which cause thecage or platform to ascend when empty, and which serve in a greater orless degree to counterbalance theweight of a person or articledescending on the platform or cage, and cause the descent to be gradualor easy of control.

in the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a face view of myimproved escape applied to the front of a building; Fig. 2, a sideelevation of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional "iew of the weight; Fig. 4,an enlarged view of the brake, and Fig. 5 an enlarged view of the cage.

Escapes have hitherto been constructed in a great variety of forms,amongwhich maybe mentioned endless chain or flexible ladders, hoists, 8w. Itis to this general style of escapes that my invention particularlyrelates.

As hitherto commonly constructed endless flexible ladders have beenfurnished with gearing by which to operate them,-necessitating, in mostinstances, the services of one or more persons upon the ground tooperate them, and thus greatly impairing the usefulness and efficiencyof theapparatus, while hoists and like appliances have added to thisobjection the difficulty of causing them to ascend and descendvertically-a very serious fault, because of the danger of swingingagainst obstructions or into the flames escaping from windows oropenings. To overcome these objections I construct my escape asindicated in the accompanying drawings, in which A represents a buildingto be protected, from the upper portion of which strong metal bracketsor supports B project, as shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose of sustainingsheaves or pulleys O, which arejournaled in the brackets, as shown. Atthe base or lower portion of the building 1 providea second pair ofpulleys, D, which may, if desired, be made vertically adjustable.

E E represent chains or wire cables passing about the pulleys orsheavesC and D, and carrying'one or more platforms or cages, F, andcounter-weights G, the weights being located on one side of the pulleysand the cage or platform on the other, and at such distance apart thatwhen the platform or cage is atits highest elevation the weights will beat their lowest point, and vice versa. The weights G are made toconsiderably exceed the weight of the cage or platform F, in order thatsaid platform shall be raised by them to its highest point when empty,and thus carried to a position which will render it readily available topersons in the upper stories of the building, and in order, also, toneutralize to a great extent the weight of children or of women, who,being readily excited, would be unable to control the descent of thecage by the use ofa brake, or taking hold of the ascending cable, aswould be done by a less excitable person. It will thus be seen that itwould simply be necessary for such persons to step upon the platform orinto the cage, when it would descend at a comparatively slow rate andcarry them safely to the ground. The weights are pointed at both ends,as indicated, in order that they may freely ride over an y obstructionsmet with, and may also be made to act as tighteners for the cables whichpass through their ends, as shown in Fig. 3,by providing one end of thecables with a threaded section and placing a nut thereon,'as shown, sothat by turning the nut the cable can be taken up or let out.

In practice I prefer to provide a brake, H, to regulate the descent ofthe cage or plat form, and this brake may be applied near the ground tobe operated by persons below, or to the cage, as in Fig. 4, to becontrolled by persons therein. is not important, but may be varied. Acramping device such as shown in Fig. at will be found to answer well.

The cage or platform may be made quite ornamental, and eitherformed witharooftoit ora small projecting roof or cover may be built to protect itat the top of the building, as indicated and as will be preferred.

It will be observed that the cage may be The construction of the brakeraised, lowered, and controlled by persons therein, on the ground, or atthe windows of the building by taking hold of the cables.

The cage will be made of fire-proof material, and is furnished with aguard or fender, I, on its outer side, cut away at the lower edge andhinged at the floor ot' the cage, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby it isadapted to fold down upon the floor when not in use to render the cageneater and more sightly in appearance, the cut-away portion permittingthe legs of passengers to be thrust out and to hang over the edge whilethe guard prevents all danger of falling out.

Ordinarily I prefer to apply the weight to one cable only, especiallywhen a brakeis applied to the cage or platform, though by simplyarranging the cable to bear against supports or arms on the cage at oneside and to be borne against by a lever on the opposite side a propermovement of the lever will afford a free passage of the weight.

If desired, a special cable may be employ ed for the brake, thoughordinarily this additional expense will be unnecessary, the main cablesbeii i g sufficient.

I do not broadly claim a counterweighted cage adapted to automaticallyascend, nor do I. claim the application of a brake thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what 0 I claim is- 1. Theherein-described fire-escape, consisting of pulleys O D, cage orplatform F, endless cables E, and weight G, applied directly to saidcables and adapted to automatically 5 elevate the cage, all combined andoperating as set forth.

2. In combination with a fire-escape cage and its supporting-cable, acounter-weight, G, having its ends pointed, as shown and de- 40 scribed,whereby it is-adapted to ride over obstructions, as set forth.

3. The cage F,provided with guard I, hinged at its lower edge and cutaway, as shown and described, for the purpose specified.

KASSON FEE EMAN.

WVitnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, WALTER S. DODGE.

